Savory Bread Pudding
 
Ingredients
  • 1 tsp. butter
  • 1 loaf French of Italian bread, sliced
  • 4-5 small tomatoes or 2-3 large ones
  • 4 oz. hard or semi-hard cheese, such as Gruyere, Swiss or Cheddar
  • ½ cup chopped fresh herbs, such as basil, thyme, oregano and parsley (optional)
  • 3 cups milk
  • 4 eggs
  • Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
  1. Butter a 2.75 or 3-quart glass baking dish.
  2. Preheat the oven to 350.
  3. Place a layer of bread slices in the bottom of the baking dish.
  4. Top the bread with a layer of sliced tomato.
  5. Season well with salt and pepper and chopped fresh herbs, if using.
  6. Grate half the cheese over the tomatoes.
  7. Repeat the layers until the dish is filled and you have used up all your bread.
  8. In a large bowl, beat the eggs and milk together.
  9. Carefully pour the milk and egg custard over the layers of bread and tomato, making sure that most of the layers are submerged.
  10. Bake at 350 for 45-50 minutes until puffed and golden.
Notes
Depending on whether you use a wide, shallow pan or narrower deeper pan, you should expect two to three complete bread-tomato-cheese layers. This recipe can be prepared ahead of time up to the point where you pour the custard over the layers of bread and tomato.
Recipe by West of the Loop at https://www.westoftheloop.com/2013/10/22/savory-bread-pudding/